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Nelson's signature
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A late 19th-century bronze signal-cannon
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Royal Doulton Lambeth salt-glazed stoneware
‘Rule Britannia’ at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood’s Specialist Maritime Auction
‘Rule Britannia’ has long been one of the most popular songs at the Last Night of the Proms, with its rousing patriotic and historic connotations. It is with a similar feeling of Britain’s naval heritage that Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood’s Specialist Maritime Auction continues to attract a successful following.
Though it has been over two hundred years since Admiral Nelson’s victory and death at the battle of Trafalgar, the legacy of ‘The Golden age of sail’ continues today in the 21st century. International bidders were attracted to the great mans signature on an Admiralty issue of command regarding the upkeep of Royal Naval vessels. Competitive bidding in the room and via online bidding took the eventual price to £5,300. A 19th century Parian bust of Nelson by Joesph Pitts of London also sold to a Nelson enthusiast for £780.
It is not until you begin to look into the history of the naval battles of the 18th century, that you begin to see their significance and the reason that these events form such a part of our National Heritage. After the glorious revolution of 1688 when James II was overthrown and William III ascended to the throne, the political map of Europe was thrown into turmoil, it began a series of wars with France that lasted over a century. Britain’s overseas interest in the colonies and their trade routes became the main targets for repeated attacks from Spain and France culminating in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars 1793-1815. Having lost the American Revolutionary war 1775-83, Britain and the Royal Navy could not afford to loose hold of their position on the world stage. Napoleon acted to suppress Britain’s economic and sea power by blocking European ports to English trade ships, as well as ordering privateers to engage British trade ships in the West Indies. In such a delicate position the Royal Navy’s victories at the Battle of Cape Vincent, The Battle of the Nile and finally at Trafalgar, prevented the loss of England’s sovereignty and its economic dominance.
A nation relieved that it would not have to learn French celebrated with victory celebrations as well as to mourn the loss of a great hero. These pieces are still highly collectable today, for example a series of reverse glass paintings of Nelsons death and funeral procession were produced, which regularly fetch £200 plus, with some of the rarer examples reaching four figures.
Ships fixtures and fittings are still popular with collectors’ and with those living close to the coast and looking for something to add a twist to modern interior decoration. With plenty of ships clocks and barometers to choose from, it was the more unusual signal cannon that caught buyers attention at £1000 and an engine room telegraph for £550. Antiques are like buses, once one piece comes along another example follows. A Royal Doulton Lambeth salt glazed stoneware advertising paperweight for the Trafalgar Towing Co., 39 High Street Lambeth, modelled as the tug boat Glory, attracted a lot of attention from buyers to reach £1000. Seeing the result of this piece prompted another example to be brought in for the following auction, which sold again for the same price to a different collector.
Already consigned for the next auction are a number of ships bells, scrimshaw and maritime pictures. For further information or valuation on maritime items, please contact Brian Goodison-Blanks on 01404 510000.
First published By The Dart December 2013